Bird watchers birthday please help

[JOSH1992]

Hello Canon rumors,

As you can see from the title there is a bird watchers birthday coming up, but not just any bird watcher, my grandfather. For many years now he has loved his cameras and has taken pictures from all around the world from when he goes away on trips. Just recently he has started going bird watching with a few friends and it turns out he is loving the time out and what he is capturing. But, there is one problem, when he takes a photo of a bird in the distance (can't be sure of the distance) it is quite blurred and he doesn't like it. So this is where I come in. I haven't really ever bought my grandfather a present but now I know there is something he wants's/needs I should be able to sort something out.

So, this is where you guys come in. I'm no photographer myself, so when it comes to cameras, lenses and all the accessories, I'm clueless. I have a feeling he needs a new or better lens due to the camera being pretty good and fairly new, but I could be wrong. After searching my usual site here https://www.cheap.forsale/ for different lenses, I couldn't work out which would work for what camera, so here I am. I will leave a few specs of the camera below and then if you guys could give me some ideas to get him that perfect shot, it would be greatly appreciated.

SPECS
Make: Cannon
Model: EOS 1300D DSLR
18 Megapixels
3in screen
and loads of other bits and bobs.

If there is any other information needed just mention below and i will get it added on for you. Looking forward to speaking with you all and getting my grandfather some awesome pictures!!

Cheers

 

[JOSH1992]

Sorry about the huge picture guys! If you know how to change it let me know and i will change it.

Sorry and thanks

 

[Aussie shooter]

Ok. Do you know what lens he is shooting with(focal length etc). And of course, how much are you willing to spend?

 

[JOSH1992]

I will find out what lens he is using now and then get back here. Thanks guys

 

[IglooEater]

Ok. Do you know what lens he is shooting with(focal length etc). And of course, how much are you willing to spend?

+1, start by finding out what he already has.

 

[greger]

From what little you have said, I think he needs a monopod to support and stabilize his kit. You didn't mention the subject being too small in the frame only that it's blurred. A tripod and cable release is the ultimate way to get stable in focus pics. A monopod is a close second. I bought a Manfrotto MXPROA4 4 section monopod on sale and am pleased with the results. After using it for awhile he will get better and better results. Turn off stabalization on the lens and let the monopod do it's job. If he needs a longer focal length then I suggest a Canon 70-200 f4 IS USM lens with a 1.4 Extender. That will cost over 1,000 Euros. I spent over $1,500 Cdn for mine during a Canon instant rebate sale. If the camera is stable I get pics that are pin sharp handheld. The 1.4 Extender can't be used with his kit lens but on the 70-200 It worked flawlessly on my 40D and now my wife's 70D. If you take him out picture taking you will see him in action giving you both a better idea what he needs. Plus you will get to spend time together doing something you both like to do.

 

[bholliman]

Hello Canon rumors,

As you can see from the title there is a bird watchers birthday coming up, but not just any bird watcher, my grandfather. For many years now he has loved his cameras and has taken pictures from all around the world from when he goes away on trips. Just recently he has started going bird watching with a few friends and it turns out he is loving the time out and what he is capturing. But, there is one problem, when he takes a photo of a bird in the distance (can't be sure of the distance) it is quite blurred and he doesn't like it. So this is where I come in. I haven't really ever bought my grandfather a present but now I know there is something he wants's/needs I should be able to sort something out.

So, this is where you guys come in. I'm no photographer myself, so when it comes to cameras, lenses and all the accessories, I'm clueless. I have a feeling he needs a new or better lens due to the camera being pretty good and fairly new, but I could be wrong. I will leave a few specs of the camera below and then if you guys could give me some ideas to get him that perfect shot, it would be greatly appreciated.

SPECS
Make: Cannon
Model: EOS 1300D DSLR
18 Megapixels
3in screen
and loads of other bits and bobs.

If there is any other information needed just mention below and i will get it added on for you. Looking forward to speaking with you all and getting my grandfather some awesome pictures!!

Cheers

From the picture it appears to be a 18-55mm lens on the 1300D camera. If so, your grandfather would need a lens with much longer focal range for good bird pictures. The options really depend on your budget. The EF-S 55-250 STM is a terrific telephoto zoom lens that would work well for birds. New it will cost around $300 US, but you can find good used ones for a fraction of that price. There are higher end lenses that will take somewhat sharper and cleaner (low noise) pictures, but the price goes up considerably from there. Bird photography can be an expensive hobby!

A monopod or tripod for stability will also definitely help as does good photography technique. There are a number of good "how to" bird and wildlife videos on Youtube.

 

[AlanF]

From what little you have said, I think he needs a monopod to support and stabilize his kit. You didn't mention the subject being too small in the frame only that it's blurred. A tripod and cable release is the ultimate way to get stable in focus pics. A monopod is a close second. I bought a Manfrotto MXPROA4 4 section monopod on sale and am pleased with the results. After using it for awhile he will get better and better results. Turn off stabalization on the lens and let the monopod do it's job. If he needs a longer focal length then I suggest a Canon 70-200 f4 IS USM lens with a 1.4 Extender. That will cost over 1,000 Euros. I spent over $1,500 Cdn for mine during a Canon instant rebate sale. If the camera is stable I get pics that are pin sharp handheld. The 1.4 Extender can't be used with his kit lens but on the 70-200 It worked flawlessly on my 40D and now my wife's 70D. If you take him out picture taking you will see him in action giving you both a better idea what he needs. Plus you will get to spend time together doing something you both like to do.

A monopod is not really the thing you need for casual bird photography, unless you are lugging around several kilos of a lens, and it is totally useless for birds in flight - I occasionally take my Manfrotto, and always regret it. I agree wholeheartedly that an EF-S 55-250mm STM will serve him much better than a 70-200mm f/4 IS + 1.4xteleconverter, having better image quality, much lighter and less bulky and at a fraction of the price - I have both lenses and can tell you first hand that is what I find, and the same is true for the particular pair of lenses TDP has http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=404&Camera=963&Sample=0&FLI=4&API=0&LensComp=856&CameraComp=963&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=5&APIComp=1.

 

[Aussie shooter]

Another vote for the 55-250stm (if he does not already have it). I have got plenty of good shots on mine. Tell him to use shutter priority and keep the shutter speed at 1/1000 or higher to freeze motion

 

[JOSH1992]

Wow, guys, loads of information! I see there is a debate rising up here on which is better the 70-200 f4 IS USM lens or the 55-250mm STM lens. In terms of the price, I don't do this every year so I don't mind spending a good amount to get him something he will love. As of the tripod, I will speak to him and see how he feels to be carrying around some extra legs detective style so he doesn't guess what I have planned.

Thanks guys

 

[JOSH1992]

And just to make sure these 2 below are the right lenses?
http://www.canon.co.uk/lenses/ef-s-55-250mm-f-4-5-6-is-stm-lens/
http://www.canon.co.uk/lenses/ef-70-200mm-f-4l-is-usm-lens/

 

[dcren123]

And just to make sure these 2 below are the right lenses?
http://www.canon.co.uk/lenses/ef-s-55-250mm-f-4-5-6-is-stm-lens/
http://www.canon.co.uk/lenses/ef-70-200mm-f-4l-is-usm-lens/

Yes they are. They are versatile lenses, but to be honest those lenses are still a bit short especially for shooting small birds. You're grandfather will have to sneak closer to birds to get good shots. You can get him a large cardboard box with the lens

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

And just to make sure these 2 below are the right lenses?
http://www.canon.co.uk/lenses/ef-s-55-250mm-f-4-5-6-is-stm-lens/
http://www.canon.co.uk/lenses/ef-70-200mm-f-4l-is-usm-lens/

There is little doubt that the 70-200mm f/4IS is the better lens, it costs 8X the price.

The question is which lens is most appropriate and well matched for the distance he shoots and for the budget.

For birds that are far away, its difficult to get a long enough lens, I bought a 600mm Canon lens from a guy who wanted 800mm.


If he is using the 18-55mm kit lens, then he is going to struggle with anything more than a few feet away. Light is another issue when you get into telephoto lenses and fast shutter speeds that go with them. Many use a flash with a Fresnel lens called a better beamer to light the subject.

For about the same price as a 70-200mm f/4 IS, you can get a 300mm f/4 IS which is a older design, but very good. A 1.4X TC will work with his camera, so he can reach out to 420mm which is pretty good. No zooming though. A 100-400mm IS Mark I (Older version) is a good choice if he wants a really nice zoom, they can be had used in the USA for around $700, making them a true bargain. The large size might be a issue though. The 100-400 is a favorite of birders because it does what many other lenses cannot do, it focuses when you are close to a bird which means you can fill the frame with a tiny humming bird. Most telephoto lenses do not focus at close distances. The 300mm f/4L mentioned above is the other close focusing lens many love.

 

[dcren123]

100-400mm is a good choice, but heavier to carry around than 70-200mm and 55-250mm. If weight isn't a problem and grandfather doesn't mind 3rd party lenses, the Tamron and Sigma 150-600mm are also worth a look. The Tamron 150-600mm version one dropped in price and can now be had for around $800~900, so it is worth a look.

But as Mt Spokane said, it all depends on what birds your grandpa shoots. If he shoots birds in flight, the AF speed/accuracy of his 1300D may be another factor that will influence resulting photos.

 

[jprusa]

You could go with the 400 5.6 , its sharp, light and I even used one with a teleconverter with pretty good results.

 

[AlanF]

Josh

I am a grandfather, a Brit and go out bird photographing at least twice a week, and have used all of those lenses, so trust me. If your grandad wants just the odd occasional bird shot not too far away, then the Canon EF-S 55-250 STM is the lens for him. If he gets hooked like me then there are two top options. One is the Canon 100-400mm II, which costs £1600-1800 and weighs about 1.7 kg. The other is the Sigma 150-600mm C, a veritable bazooka but weighs only 300g more at about 2 kg and costs only £700-800. The Sigma set to 400mm is just as good as the Canon at full length of 400mm. The Sigma is very popular here as is the Canon with bird photographers (I regularly use both plus some very expensive lenses and am very happy with all of them).

If your grandad wants some tips on shooting, then ask me and I'll post some.

Alan

 

[slclick]

Used! It's hit and miss of course, not unlike newbie BIF images, lol.
But hey, the 400 5.6 used can be had on Keh.com for the low $700's now and then. A 100-400 Mk 1 for $729 right now.

 

[Talys]

I assume the choice of body and the desire to buy used is because of a combination of price and the desire to shoot on a budget. I would therefore rule out heavy/expensive lens, and really, I'd try to look at last-generation pieces.

The 55-250 IS II (not STM) can be had for USD $70-$80 used (or less), and will take great pictures for the price. The lens feels cheap, but the pictures are just fine for casual photography, IMHO. Put the camera on a tripod, and your grandpa's photos, even at 250mm, will be sharp.

If you want to go a step up, there will probably be a lot of last-gen 70-300 USM lens that were traded in or sold as some people go to the new nano USM version. It's not too heavy, and a decent zoom with good optics in the consumer range.

There are also some tamron options, especially if he wants a lens that has a huge focal range, from wide to 270 or 300. The problem with these seem to be that a lot of people report that they don't last (I don't own one, so I can't say).

A tripod (or equivalent) is really essential at 250mm+, because even a small amount of shaking will dramatically influence the photo. Especially with the less expensive lenses, you'll be looking at 5.6 or 6.3 at the maximum focal length, meaning that your choices become higher iso or lower shutter speed in many situations, reducing your margin for error. An additional little present you can give him is a remote trigger (a wired one is fine) -- it really cuts down on any camera vibration.

Good luck and happy birthday grandpa! ;D

 

[AlanF]

A tripod is NOT essential. One of the finest bird photographers I have seen on the net, Arash Hazeghi, http://ari1982.smugmug.com prides himself on not using a tripod. He uses light lenses hand held for all his work.

 

[Don Haines]

A tripod is NOT essential. One of the finest bird photographers I have seen on the net, Arash Hazeghi, http://ari1982.smugmug.com prides himself on not using a tripod. He uses light lenses hand held for all his work.

I would agree... For example, try tracking birds in flight with a tripod....and for stuff that isn't moving, try leaning against a tree, wall, or fence..... It does wonders for your stability....